Opinion Piece Rubric

(from Guide to First Year Comp., 13th edition, pps. 555-557)

Assessment Rubric for Online Opinion Piece CATEGORY	A	B	C	D	F
Policy change: 20 pts.	The policy change is clear and specific.	The policy change is fairly clear and specific.	The policy change needs to be clearer and/or specific, though overall it is adequate.	The policy change needs to be significantly clearer and/or more specific.	The policy change is missing.
Ethos: 15 pts.	The writer‘s arguments are strong and introduced evidence to show highly- respected sources.	The writer‘s arguments are good, and introduced evidence to show well- respected sources.	The writer's arguments are adequate, and the introduced sources may show uneven quality.	One or more of the writer's arguments and evidence is significantly weak. Source quality appears poor.	The writer did not use any effective arguments or evidence. Source quality is poor or unknown.
Pathos: 15 pts.	The writer uses strong strategies to appeal to the readers‘ values and beliefs.	The writer uses good strategies appeal to the readers' values and beliefs.	The writer's appeals to the readers' values and beliefs are uneven, though overall they are adequate.	The writer‘s appeals to the readers‘ values and beliefs is inadequate or often uneven.	The writer did not use any effective appeals to the readers' values and beliefs.

Logos: 15 pts.	The writer's organizational structure strongly supports the arguments. The logic is straight and strong.	The writer‘s organizational structure provides good support for the arguments. Logic is good.	The writer's organizational structure and logic are adequate to support the arguments, but are sometimes uneven.	The writer‘s organizational structure provides inadequate support for the arguments. The logic is often uneven.	The writer did not use effective organization and/or logic.
Research: 10 pts.	Research strongly supports the argument and is correctly cited, both in-text and on Reference page or notes.	Research provides good support for the argument and is correctly cited both in-text and on Reference page or notes.	Research provides adequate support for the argument, though it may be uneven. It is mostly correctly cited both in-text and on Reference page or notes.	Research provides inadequate support for the argument and it is incorrectly cited either in-text and on Reference page or notes.	No research is evident and/or it is not cited in text or on Reference page.
Writing Fluency: 15 pts.	Skilled writing. There are few, if any, errors. Writing is clear and concise.	Good writing. There are a few surface errors but they are not distracting. Writing is clear and concise.	Adequate writing. Some surface errors are distracting, though they don't impede overall communication. Writing is mostly clear and/or a bit wordy.	Deficient writing. Surface errors sometimes make it difficult to understand the writer's message. Writing is generally unclear and/or wordy.	Serious writing deficiencies. Surface errors make it very difficult to understand the writer's message. Writing is unclear and/or wordy.

Design: 10 pts.

Design is professional and intended for an online audience. Text wrap and graphics are used as needed. Selected graphics are appropriate to the policy.

Design is mostly professional and intended for an online audience. Text wrap and graphics are used as needed.

Design somewhat professional and somewhat intended for an online audience. Text wrap and graphics could have been better implemented.

Design is not visually appealing; there is minimal consideration for an online audience.

There is no design and no consideration for an online audience.